A former principal lecturer at City College Norwich, Geoffrey Knott, who has died aged 86 at home, also wrote seven books on accountancy and financial management.

He taught generations of students in a career spanning almost 30 years in Norwich having become a lecturer almost by chance at Northampton College of Further Education.

Having qualified as a certified accountant and also as a chartered secretary by correspondence courses, he had gone to study French at an evening class.

When told that there were no vacancies, he was asked, given his background, whether he would stand in as a temporary lecturer in accounting and teach accountancy at evening classes.

To his surprise, he enjoyed it so much than when a full-time post was advertised in Norwich, he successfully applied.

In the early 1980s, he helped to plan courses with the Business Education Council. At that time, a publisher, Pan wanted to produce a home study book and asked him to write one on cost and management accounting.

His first was published in 1982 and a further three followed in the next five years including one called Financial Management.

When interviewed by the EDP in 1987, he said: 'Books have brought me some bread and butter. I've not yet had any jam.'

Born in Bury, Lancashire, he went to school in Stockport, later working for Plessey before switching to teaching. After retiring, he was a part-time lecturer at the University of East Anglia and continued into his 70s marking examination scripts.

Married in 1953 to Dorothy, they shared a mutual enthusiasm for outdoor activities including orienteering, sailing, swimming and camping. They also both decided to take up painting after studying at Wensum Lodge, Norwich, and for more than 10 years enjoyed modest success with oils.

As his health declined, they moved to Tonbridge, Kent in 2009 to be closer to their sons.

He leaves a widow, Dorothy, and is survived by two sons and a grandchild.

A funeral service will take place at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium tomorrow at 11am.